Oscillatable bark-removing jet continuously directed toward axis of a passing log



Oct. 2, 1956 c. M. RIDDELL ETAL 2,765,012 OSCILLATABLE BARK-REMOVING JETCONTINUOUSLY DIRECTED TOWARD AXIS OF A PASSING LOG Filed Aug. 30. 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CYRUJ M. R/DDELL O. J. QHTTENBURY f/TTOENEYOct. 2, 1956 c. M. RIDDELL ETAL 2,765,012 OSCILLATABLE BARK-REMOVING JETCONTINUOUSLY DIRECTED TOWARD AXIS OF A PASSING LOG Filed Aug. 30, 1954iSheets-Sheet 2 m INVENTOR. CY/eus M.R/001.L

0. J. Rn TTENBUR Y BY g vdgw 2,765,012 OUSLY ING LOG Oct. 2, 1956. c. M.RIDDELL A OSCILLATABLE BARK-REMOVING JETCONTINU DIRECTED TOWARD AXIS OFA PASS Filed Aug. 30. 1954 a Sheets-Sheet 3' IN V EN TOR. M R/DOE L L cweus OJ. EKITTENBUBY OSCILLATABLE BARK-REMOVING JET CONTINU- OUSLYDRECTED TOWARD AXIS OF A PASS- IN G LOG Cyrus M. Riddell, Everett, Wash,and David J. Battenbury, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, assignorsto Sumner Iron Works, Inc., Everett, Wash.

Application August 30, 1954, Serial No. 452,846

7 Claims. (Cl. 144-208) This invention relates to log debarking means,and it has reference more particularly to hydraulic means for debarkinglogs of various sizes that are advanced past the debarking apparatus.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a hydraulicdebarker which does not require that the logs be rotated for thedebarking operation; which will operate to debark a log as it isadvanced past the apparatus and without any interruption in the travelof the log; that employs a high pressure nozzle at each of the oppositesides of the log which nozzles are carried by swing pipes through whichthey are supplied with water under high pressure and are caused tooscillate in substantially vertical arcs, that extend from top to bottomsides of the log, and closely approximate the same radius as the logbeing debarked.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a debarker as abovestated including devices that are controlled by each log in passing, toautomatically adjust the radius and establish the limits of the arc oftravel of each nozzle, and also to adjust the height of the nozzle inaccordance with the height of the log as carried past the nozzles by theconveyor chains.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention reside in thecombination of parts embodied in the apparatus; in the relationship ofthe parts to the log and to each other and in the mode of operation ofthe apparatus for the debarking of logs of varying diameters and lengthsas they are moved in succession past the apparatus.

In accomplishing these, and other objects of the invention, we haveprovided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side view, parts being broken away and shown in section, ofa hydraulic debarking apparatus embodying the improvements of thepresent invention therein; and showing it in a log debarking operation.

Fig. 2 is a top, or plan view of the apparatus and log, certain partsbeing omitted and certain parts being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of one of the nozzles and its swingpipe as equipped with ball-bearing support and oscillating means; thissection being taken substantially on the line 3-8 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 44 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the nozzles and its swing pipe,together with the pipe-oscillating means and devices for efiecting theautomatic adjustment of parts in accordance with the size of log to bedebarked.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through the log slip, showing thearcs of travel of the two nozzles for the debarking of logs of large andsmall diameters.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In Figs. 1 and 2, a log, represented as being one of substantialdiameter, is designated by reference numeral 19, and it is shown asbeing supported by and advanced 2,765,61 Patented Get. 2, 1956 along alog slip by the top runs of aligned conveyor chain belts 11 and 12 onwhich it is longitudinally disposed. These conveyor chains are hereshown to be equipped at intervals there-along with cross flights 13 toadvance the log and to aid in holding it properly on the conveyor chainsas it is advanced. It is further shown in Fig. 1 that the aligned chainbelts 11 and 12 have adjacent ends spaced to provide an open gap ofseveral feet in length between them across which each log moves; thegap, as thus provided, allowing water as discharged from the nozzles, toproperly debark the bottoms of the logs; this gap is designated at 14 inFig. 1.

While the means of support for and the devices for driving the conveyorchains 11, 12 are of no particular significance insofar as the debarkingoperation is concerned, We have shown them in Fig. 1 to be extendedabout driving sprocket wheels 15 that are fixed on rotatably supportedcross-shafts 16, 16 these being suitably supported in bearings 17 fixedto frames of the slip structure as shown. These two cross-shafts aredriven in unison by chain belts 18, 18 operating about sprocket wheelson the cross-shafts, and about other sprocket wheels 19 fixed on a motordriven shaft 29.

It is to be understood that the debarking mechanism can be located atany place along a log slip, either adjacent the upwardly inclined run ora horizontal portion thereof, but preferably adjacent the latter.

The debarking apparatus of this invention comprises two high pressurenozzles 24, 24 that are directed laterally from the ends of swing pipes25, 25, respectively; these pipes being located at opposite sides of theslip and logconveying means, as has been shown in Fig. 2. The nozzlesare of such design as to discharge the jets of water in such directionas to give best debarking results. It is desirable also that the nozzlejets he directed angularly against the advancing log as indicated by thedirection arrows 27, 27 as drawn across the nozzles in Fig. 2.

Water for the debarking operation is brought to each of the swing pipesfrom a source of supply under high pressure, through a plurality of hoselines 28 which connect to the pipes through fittings designated at 29.

Each of the swing pipes 25 is equipped near its sup ported end, thatbeing the end opposite the nozzleequipped end, with an encirclingball-shaped bearing 30 that is pivotally fitted in a bearing block 31fixed on the upper end of a vertical slide or post 32. This post isvertically adjustable in a bearing block 33 that is fixed in the baseframe structure of the slip. This post is adapted to be verticallyadjusted by means of a hydraulic cylinder 34 which is shown in Fig. 1 tobe pivotally mounted at its lower end on the stationary base structure,and to have the outer end of its piston rod 35 fixed to the lower end ofthe post 32.

At their ends, which are opposite the nozzles, the swing pipes 25 areequipped with yokes 38, each of which embraces and is pivoted to a block39 by a vertically directed pivot pin 40. Each block 39 is slidaolymounted for travel along a rod 42 which is substantially horizontallydisposed and also is directed substantially at a right angle to thedirection of travel of the log. The relationship of the rods 42 to thecorresponding swing pipes 25 and to the line of travel of the log 10will be best understood by reference to the showing of these parts inFigs. 2 and 5.

At their outer ends, each of the rods $2 is equipped with a ball bearing44 which is pivotally contained in a fixedly mounted bearing block 45.At their inner ends, each rod has a pivotal connection with the upperend of a pitman rod 46 that, in turn, is mounted at its lower end on acrank 47. The two cranks 47, 47 for the two swing pipes 25, 25, arefixed on the opposite ends of a cross-shaft 48 that extends horizontallybeneath the conveyor chain 12 and to opposite sides thereof, as seen inFig. 2 and is rotatably mounted and is adapted to be rotatably driven bya motor such as shown at 49. As the shaft 43 is rotated, the two cranks.47, 47 cause the rods 42, 42 to be oscillated in unison in verticalarcs centered in the corresponding ball-bearing supports 44 for therods. With the oscillating of these rods, the two swing pipes 25, 25'are caused to oscillate in unison about their ball-bearing supports 30,31 by reason of their end connections with the blocks 39, 39 which aremounted on the rods 42, 42.

It is required in the use of the presentnozzles that they be keptrelatively close to the log and also that the extent of their travel besuch that both sides of the log, from top to bottom, will be subjectedto the force of the water therefrom and be completely stripped of bark.This particular requirement applies to all logs regardless of diameter.For example, we have shown, in Fig. 6, two log sizes, designated at and10b, respectively. The arcs of travel of the nozzles, as adjusted toaccommodate the log of larger diameter, are designated respectively bythe arcuate dash lines d and e, while the arcs of travel of the nozzlesas adjusted to accommodate the logs of small diameter are designated atf and g. The change in position of nozzles as required to bestaccommodate logs of different diameters and height, is effected by theraising and lowering of the blocks 31 through the use of the hydrauliccylinders 34 and by the shifting of the blocks 39 along the rods 42, 42.

The change in position of the blocks 39 along the rods 42, 42 iseffected by means of hydraulic cylinders 50 which are pivotallysupported at their inner ends from brackets 51 fixed on the oscillatingends of the rods 42 and which cylinders have their piston rods 52extended along the rods 42 and connected with the blocks 39 in suchmanner as to provide for shifting them inwardly or outwardly along therods.

It will be understood that with-the parts in the particular relationshipin which they are shown in Fig. 5, the rotation of cross-shaft 48 andthe cranks 47 thereon, causes the free ends of rods 42 to oscillatevertically as along the dash line are k, and, by reason of this, theswing pipes 25 are oscillated about the ball bearings 30, 31 and thenozzles 24 at their ends are caused to follow along dash line arcs asdesignated at p. With the blocks 39 held against movement along the rods42, 42, and the blocks 31 supported at a fixed elevation, the arcs whichthe nozzles 24, 24 follow will be definitely established and the arcswill center substantially in the axial line of the log being acted on.

The length of the arcs p along which the nozzles swing can be increasedor decreased by shifting the blocks 39 on the rods 42 away from ortoward the ball joints 44, and this shifting also will cause the radiusof the are along which the nozzles travel to be lengthened or shortened.Thus, it is possible by adjusting the blocks 39 along their respectiverods 42, toward the corresponding ball joints 44, to move the nozzlestoward each other and a log passing between them as required for thedebarking of a log of lesser diameter than that for which the nozzlesmay be set, and by this same adjustment, to shorten the length of theare.

It is also possible by lowering or by rasing the blocks 31, 31 from oneposition of adjustment to another, to keep the arcs centered in theaxial line of the passing logs. It is desirable, in the use of thepresent barker, to so adjust the level of the ball joints 30 that thenozzles, when half way between the end limits of their arcs of travelwill be at the horizontal diameter of the log being debarked.

In order that the adjustments as made by the two bydraulic cylinders 34and 50 as employed in connection with each swing pipe may beautomatically accomplished by the individual logs as they pass along theconveyor slip through the debarking station, we have provided thecontrol devices for the cylinders as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1.In these views, we have shown a pair of hydraulic cylinders 60 and 61supported from a fixed member, designated at 62, above the level of thepassing logs. Cylinder 69 has pipe lines or conduits 6363 (only one pairbeing shown in Fig. 1) connecting its opposite ends with opposite endsof each hydraulic cylinder 50. Likewise, cylinder 61 has pipe lines 6464(only one pair being shown in Fig. 1) connecting its opposite ends withthe opposite ends of each cylinder 34. The cylinder 66 contains a piston65 equipped with extended piston rod 66. Likewise, cylinder 61 isequipped with a piston 67 with extended rod 68. The outer ends of therods are fixed to a slide 69 mounted for reciprocal travel by asupporting guide 70. When the slide is moved, the two pistons moveaccordingly, and their movement, through the hydraulic pressure mediumemployed in the cylinders and pipe connections efiects requiredmovements of the pistons in the cylinders 34 and 50 for purposespreviously explained.

Swingingly suspended from supporting brackets '74 and 75 that are fixedto the overhead frame structure above the log conveyor, are levers 76and 77. These levers extend downwardly and in the direction of travel ofthe logs, and at their lower ends are equipped with rollers 78 and 79that are adapted to roll on top of the passing logs. The levers areweighted, as at 80, and under these weights will be swung down, as notedin the dotted line showing of lever 76, when unsupported by a passinglog.

Extended upwardly from the pivoted ends of the levers 76 and 77 arelever arms 81 and 82. Pivotally connected to these arms are the ends oflinks 83 and 84 which have their other ends slidable through holes in anend member of the slide 69. At these ends, the links are equipped withnuts 86 which provide a holding connection for pulling the slide in onedirection. A coiled spring 87 is attached under tension to the slide 69and to the frame member 62 to pull the slide toward the cylinders aspermitted by the links connected thereto.

Assuming the parts to be so arranged, it will be understood that when alog is advanced along the slip by the conveyor chains, it first contactsthe roller 78 on lever 76 and subsequently contacts the roller 79 onlever 77. With the first contact, the lever 76 will be swung upwardlyand by reason of this movement will cause link 83 to pull the slide 69to the left, in reference to the showing in Fig. 1. This movement shiftsthe pistons in the cylinders 60 and 61 to effect adjustment of thepistons in cylinders 34 and 50 to establish the proper elevation of theswing pipe bearings 31 and the proper position of blocks 39 along therods 42, 42 to adapt the nozzles to the log size.

It will be understood that when the log engages roller 79 the lever 77and its connecting link 84 operate to hold the adjustment after the loghas passed the roller 78 and before the next log has come into position.It would be possible, however, to operate with only the lever 76, withsatisfactory results.

Attention is called to the fact that the positions of the swing pipes atopposite sides of the logs corresponding at all times. When a change insetting of one is made, the other is changed accordingly by the samecontrol means.

It is further to be noted that, as the swing pipes are oscillated abouta transverse axis to cause the nozzles to swing up and down through thevertical arcs, such as designated at p in Fig. 5, the swing pipes 25 aresimultaneously oscillated about their longitudinal axes by reason oftheir yoke connections 38 with the blocks 39. For example, when the arm42 is swung upwardly by the crank 47 and the rod 46, the block 39 movesupwardly along an arcuate path centering on ball 44 to simultaneouslyraise the yoke 38 and turn it counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 5),such compound movement of the yoke 38 simultaneously depressing thenozzle 24 and turning it counterclockwise. Conversely, as the yoke 38descends, it will simultaneously raise and turn the nozzle 24 clockwise,so that the nozzles are always directed toward the axial line of thelog, as will be understood by reference to the full line and dotted linepositions of the nozzles in Fig. 6.

Thus, the arcuate travel of the nozzles in a direction circumferentiallyof the log as represented by the dash line p in Fig. 5 varies inaccordance with arcuate movements of the blocks 39, to which the innerends of the swing pipes are connected.

Apparatus of this character is relatively simple to construct andoperate, and it is comparatively inexpensive. However, it willaccommodate logs of wide range of diameters.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A log-debarking apparatus comprising. in combination, means for theendwise conveyance of a log through a debarking station, a swing pipemounted at one side of the path of travel of such a log and extended inthe general direction of said path of travel, and adapted to receivewater under pressure therein, a nozzle mounted by the swing pipe at itsdischarge end and directed angularly therefrom and toward a log for thedischarge of water against such a log for bark removal, means foroscillating the swing pipe to swing the nozzle back and forth in adirection transversely of such a log, and means for effectingdirectional adjustment of the nozzle as it swings in opposite directionsto maintain the water stream therefrom directed against such a log andtoward its axis.

2. A log-debarking apparatus comprising, in combination, means for theendwise conveyance of a log through a debarking station, a swing pipelocated at one side of the path of travel of such a log and extended:therealong, means pivotally supporting said swing pipe at one end foroscillation, means for supplying water under pressure to the swing pipe,a nozzle on the oscillating end of the swing pipe, directed laterallytherefrom toward the log path, for the discharge of water therefromagainst a log for bark removal as such a log progresses through thedebarking station, and an oscillating means for oscillating the swingpipe to cause said nozzle to swing in an are that is substantiallycentered in the axial portion of a passing log, and to automaticallyeffect a rotatable adjustrnent of the pipe about its axial line inopposite directions as it oscillates to maintain the nozzle directedtoward the axial line of a passing log.

3. In a log-debarking apparatus, in combination, means for thehorizontal, endwise conveyance of a log without rotation through adebarking station, a. swing pipe located at one side and extending alongthe path of travel of such a log, means pivotally supporting said pipeat a point spaced inwardly from its outer end for oscillation,

and permitting an axial rotatable adjustment of the pipe therein, meansfor admitting water under pressure to the pipe, a nozzle at theoscillating end of the pipe, directed angularly therefrom for thedischarge of water against a passing log in a direction for the removalof bark therefrom, an actuating shaft extended substantially at a rightangle to the swing pipe at the outer end thereof, means pivotallyconnecting the adjacent outer end of the swing pipe to said shaftbetween its ends; said shaft having a fixed pivotal mounting at one endand there being power-operated means connected with the shaft forcausing vertical oscillation thereof and the transmission of arcuateoscillatory motion to the nozzle-carrying end of the swing shaft and toeffect its automatic rotary adjustment whereby the nozzle is maintainedin a direction pointed toward the log axis.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the means for connecting theend of the swing pipe to the actuating shaft comprises a bearing that isadjustable along said shaft, to change the position of the swing piperelative to a passing log, and to change the radius and length of theare along which the nozzle is oscillated.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein means is provided foreffecting an automatic adjustment of the bearing along the actuatingshaft in accordance with the diameter of such a passing log.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said bearing is slidinglyadjustable along said actuating shaft and a hydraulic cylinder isfixedly mounted on said shaft and is operatively connected with saidbearing for effecting and retaining its adjustment.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said bearing is slidinglyadjustable along said actuating shaft as a means of changing the radiusand extent of the arc of oscillation of the nozzle, and wherein ahydraulic cylinder is mounted on said shaft and is operatively connectedwith said bearing for its adjustment, and wherein a means is operatbleby each log in passing through the de-barking station to control theoperation of the hydraulic cylinder to adjust the arc of oscillation ofthe nozzle in accordance with and to suit the diameter of such a passinglog.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,501,848 Johnson Mar. 28, 1950 2,552,871 Shaw May 15, 1951 2,576,861Shaw et al. Nov. 27, 1951 2,586,727 Shaw Feb. 19, 1952 2,661,781 SimonDec. 8, 1953 2,709,465 Hansel May 31, 1955

